Committees

Aid for community-led energy

Inquiry

Energy lies at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Yet, the international community remains largely off track in meeting these commitments. According to the International Energy Agency, around 750 million people lack access to electricity, and more than 2 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuels, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Future energy systems need to be renewable, inclusive, and resilient. Decentralised energy, where generation and governance occur closer to the point of use, is gaining traction as a way to achieve these goals. ‘Community energy’ is one approach within this broader shift, ensuring that people play a central role in decision-making and ownership. Whether through local control or collective governance, these systems give communities a direct stake in their energy future. More broadly, decentralised energy models, ranging from cooperative solar projects to independent microgrids, can accelerate the deployment of renewables and generate significant local socio-economic benefits. However, challenges such as financing constraints, technical capacity, and regulatory hurdles continue to limit their expansion.

This inquiry explored locally led development in the context of energy systems. It assessed the UK Government’s role in addressing global energy poverty while promoting clean energy and strengthening local communities abroad. It sought to understand how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) supports localised energy projects, how effective and transformative this funding is, and where gaps exist in financing, technology, and capacity-building. 

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This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:45pm on 16 May 2025.

Upcoming events

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Past events

Tuesday 16 September 2025
2:00pm Public
Aid for community-led energy - Oral evidence 16 September 2025
2:00pm
  • The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
  • Steven Hunt (Senior Energy Innovation Advisor, Research and Evidence Directorate at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
  • Chris Taylor (Deputy Director for Clean Transitions, Energy, Climate & Environment Directorate at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 24 June 2025
2:00pm Public
Aid for community-led energy - Oral evidence 24 June 2025
2:00pm
  • Dr Kate Steel (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Nithio)
  • Mr David Nicholson (Chief Climate Officer at Mercy Corps)
  • Dr Melita Lazell (Associate Professor in Political Economy & Development at University of Portsmouth)
3:00pm
  • Professor Ed Brown (Research Director, Modern Energy Cooking Services at Loughborough University)
  • Ms Emilie Carmichael (Head of International at Energy Saving Trust)
  • Juliette Keeley (Chief Impact Officer at Shell Foundation)
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 10 June 2025
2:00pm Public
Aid for community-led energy - Oral evidence 10 June 2025
2:00pm
  • Nedjip Tozun (Chief Executive Officer at D.light)
  • William Kamkwamba (Founder at Moving Windmills Project)
2:45pm
  • Dr Alycia Leonard (Senior Research Associate at University of Oxford)
  • Sarah Roberts (Chief Executive Officer at Practical Action)
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.

  • Email: indcom@parliament.uk
  • Address: International Development Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA